Clinical Psychologist Sutton

Job summary

We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic Band 7 (0.8 WTE), for a fixed term (1 Year) post working with children and teenagers who have cancer and with their families.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced multi‑disciplinary medical and nursing oncology unit, where leadership, innovation, research, teaching and training are strongly encouraged. The psychology service provides a comprehensive assessment, consultation and support service both internally and externally to the Unit. The role encompasses both clinical and neuro psychological work. This is a very well‑established psychology team, with excellent professional and compassionate staff, very well supported by our efficient and caring administration team within a cancer Centre of Excellence.

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to the systematic provision of a high‑quality specialist clinical psychology service to paediatric oncology patients and to their families, within the working context of the paediatric psychosocial team and within the wider context of the multidisciplinary team.
• To supervise junior members of the psychology team and other members of the multidisciplinary team who provide psychologically based care and treatment.
• To work autonomously within professional guidelines.
• To utilise research skills for audit, policy and service development and research.
• To propose and implement policy changes within the paediatric oncology clinical psychology service.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world‑leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on‑going achievements.

Job responsibilities

For further information please refer to the job description and personal specification:

• In conjunction with the Consultant Paediatric Psychologist, other team members and the wider paediatric multi-disciplinary psychosocial team, contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive clinical psychology service for children and young people with cancer, and their families.
• Providing specialist psychological assessments of children and adolescents with cancer and their families, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data from a variety of sources.
• To formulate and implement plans (or facilitate appropriate external referral) for the formal psychological treatment and/or management of the patients or any member of their familys mental health problems, based upon an appropriate conceptual or theoretical framework of the patients difficulties, and employing methods of proven therapeutic efficacy for intervention.
• To be responsible for implementing and coordinating a range of highly specialised psychological interventions for individuals, couples, families and groups based upon appropriate psychological models.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

• Post-Graduate Doctoral level training in Clinical Psychology (or its equivalent)
• Valid HCPC registration, or eligible for HCPC registration following completion of an HCPC accredited course
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Training in one or more additional therapies with an evidence base for chronic pain

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with a wide variety of client groups, across the lifespan and presenting with the full range of clinical severity
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients across the full range of care settings, including outpatient, community, primary care and in‑patient settings
• Experience of exercising full clinical responsibility for patients' psychological care and treatment, both as either as a trainee clinical psychologist or as a newly qualified clinician and within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of teaching and training other professionals
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of neuropsychology and experience in neuropsychological testing

Desirable

• Experience of working in paediatric psychology
• Experience of working collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams within a hospital setting
• Experience of providing clinical supervision
• Experience of providing psychological pain management interventions
• Experience as the sole psychologist within an MDT

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential

• Doctoral level knowledge and experience in research design and methodology
• An ability to initiate and implement research projects
• Skills in the use of complex methods of psychological assessment and intervention frequently requiring use of sustained and intense concentration
• A high-level ability to communicate potentially complex and sensitive information effectively at both a written and oral level, both to patients and their families, carers, and a wide range of lay and professional persons within and outside of NHS
• The ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing problems, verbal abuse and the threat of physical abuse
• Skills in providing consultation and advice to other professional and non-professional groups
• Ability to teach and train others, using a variety of complex multi-media materials suitable for presentations within public, professional and academic settings
• Ability to identify, and employ, as appropriate, clinical governance and audit mechanisms to reflect, assess and maintain the effectiveness of clinical practice
• Enthusiasm for clinical psychology, health psychology and working with children, young people and families
• An interest in service development and delivery
• Ability to effectively manage competing demands
• Ability to provide and promote appropriate support to carers and staff
• Willingness to keep abreast of literature and of new developments in the field
• Computer literate, and ability to use multi-media materials for presentations
• Ability to articulate and interpret the role of clinical psychology, within both local and national contexts

Desirable

• An ability to work as the sole psychologist within an MDT, with support from the wider Paediatric and Teenage Psychological Support Service
• Well-developed knowledge of the theory and practice of specialised psychological therapy for use in physical health settings
• Knowledge of legislation and implications for clinical practice
• A commitment to evaluation of services, including audit
• A wish to continue to develop expertise in area of paediatrics
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural framework

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.